Dental separator and matrix holder



March 7, 1939. F. B. MCMNCH 2,150,005

DENTAL SEPARATOR AND MATRIX HOLDER Filed Dec. 28, 1937 1710671201. fianit'fi MIA inch,

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Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,150,005 DENTAL SEPARATOR AND MATRIX HOLDER Frank B. McNinch, Philadelphia, Pa. Application December 28, 1937, Serial No. 182,047 10 Claims. (01. 32-64) My invention relates to a new and useful dental along one edge of said web, which head preferseparator and matrix holder and has for one of ably has inclined or beveled sides for engagement its objects to provide an exceedingly simple, efwith and between the proximal surfaces of the fective and inexpensive device of this character teeth and a pair of spaced protuberances on both having means to engage several parts of confaces and adjacent the other edge of the web to 5 tiguous teeth to prevent dislodgment or slipping engage the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth of the device in any direction so that the effective between the occlusal surfaces thereof and the separating and holding action will not be ingum, said protuberances preferably being dome terrupted. shaped to produce a wedging effect on the teeth.

Because of the general napiform shape of a Astill further object of the invention is to make 10 personss teeth, the usual resilient devices placed the stock, from which the combined dental sepabetween contiguous teeth have a tendency to rator and matrix holder may be cut, in strip form work in, out, forward or backward and become and having many protuberances on both faces of displaced relative to the occlusal surfaces of the the web, those on one face being located directly teeth or actually dislodged from between the opposite those on the other face. 15 teeth. To overcome these defects or faults, I With the above and other objects in view, this construct the article of my invention so as toininvention consists of the details of construction clude means cooperating with the proximal surand combination of elements hereinafter set forth faces of the teeth to prevent. the web thereof and designated by the claims.

from creeping inward and other means 00- In order that those skilled in the art to which 20 operating with the inner and outer surfaces of this invention appertains may understand how the teeth thereby preventing creeping of the to make and use the same, I will describe its conweb in any direction. The particular arrangestruction, referring my numerals to the accomment or location of the elements relative to one panying drawing, in which:-

another positively maintains the web between Fig. 1 illustrates a pair of teeth with my inven- 2r the occlusal surfaces and therefore will accomtion applied thereto. plish the purposes desired. Consequently, an- Fig. 2 is a section thereof longitudinally of the other object of the present invention is to make a teeth. device of this character including a web having Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 a head along one edge and longitudinally spaced 3-3 of Fig. 2. retaining means on both faces adjacent its other Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspectiVe V w O a denedge. tal separator and matrix holder according to the Another object of this invention is to produce a invention. device of the kind stated from elastic, waterproof Fig. 5 is an end View thereof. material, such as rubber, including a web having Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the strip from oppositely projecting flanges or a head along one which the device of the invention may be cut as edge and longitudinally spaced protuberances, desired or required. teats or knobs on one or both faces adjacent the In carrying out my invention as herein emother edge all as an integral, unitary structure. bodied It! represents the dental separator and 40 The construction of the device is such that admatrix holder which is substantially T-shaped in 40 vantage is taken of the inclined, tapering and cross section and consists of a web or body ll curved walls or surfaces of the teeth to provide with a head [2 along one edge and protuberances a constant tension and yielding pressure on the I3, l4, l5 and I5 projecting from the faces of parts acted upon by the device. the web or body adjacent the edge of the web 4 When the device is used for separating teeth opposite the head. The protuberances are arthe constant tension on the protuberances caused ranged so that one pair, as l3 and I 5 project from by the contractile action of the web provides an one face and the other pair, as M' and I6 project incessant but slight pressure which tends to confrom the other face of said web. The protubertinuously separate teeth between which the deances on one face are located directly opposite vice is placed. those on the other face all of which may be 50 When used to hold a matrix inposition, the dereadily observed by reference to Fig. 3. If device constituting the invention referred to heresired, the protuberances may be limited to one in provides a yielding pressure that permits inface. sertion of the filling even though the filling ex- The device is made from elastic, waterproof tends slightly beyond the edges of the walls of material, such as rubber or like materials and 55 the cavity. is applied by distending the web and its head A further object of the invention is to produce until said web becomes sufficiently thin to permit a T-shaped device of elastic, waterproof material its insertion between a pair of teeth I! and H! such as rubber or the like, and including a web or between a tooth and amatrix assembled in the or body for insertion between the teeth, a head usual or any well known manner. In placing the 60 device in position the edge of the web, adjacent which the protuberances are located, is inserted between the teeth and forced inward relative to the teeth until the head 12 contacts the proximal surfaces of the teeth as plainly illustrated in Fig. 2. This prevents the device from being inserted too far and stops said device from creeping or slipping forward towards the papilla of the gum. When the device is positioned and the distending force removed therefrom, the web will contract and draw a companion pair of protuberances at one end of said web into engagement with the inner surfaces and the other companion pair of protuberances at the opposite end of said Web into engagement withthe outer surfaces of the pair of teeth being operated upon and below the occlusal surfaces.

By making the sides of the head inclined or beveled as indicated at I9 said head will snugly fit the proximal surfaces of the teeth, as shown in Fig. 2 and by making the protuberances dome shaped the tension of the web tends to cause said protuberances to wedge in between the teeth and therefore produce a continuous separating action. As there is a pair of protuberances at both the front and back of the teeth, said protuberances prevent the device from creeping inward and outward and since said protuberances engage the surfaces of the teeth between the largest transverse diameter of the teeth and the gum, the device is prevented from creeping or sliding rearward. In actual practice, the device is of such size that the edge of the web adjacent which the protuberances are located will be spaced from the papilla of the gum and due to the fact that the device is held against displacement it can never come in contact with the papilla and cause soreness.

A number of the devices may be embodied in a strip as shown in Fig. 6 which strip will be of the same cross sectional shape as a single device, but there will be a series or row of protuberances on one or both faces and said strip can be cut into sections in a manner that will provide a pair of the protuberances on either or both faces and said cutting may be done whenever desired or as the devices are required.

Although I have described the invention generally as having protuberances on both faces of the web it is to be understood that those on one face can be dispensed with or the protuberance at one end may project from one face of the web and the protuberance at the other end may project from the opposite face.

While I have described the use of the device particularly as a separator, it will be obvious that the same may be utilized as a matrix holder in which the retaining action of the head and protuberances will be similar to that hereinbefore outlined.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:--

. 1. A dental separator and matrix holder comprising a member of elastic material T-shaped in cross section and including a Web adapted to be inserted between contiguous teeth, a head along one edge of said web, and a pair of protuberances on each face of said web adjacent its opposite edge each one of said protuberances being adjacent to an end of said web.

2. The structure in claim 1 in which the protuberances are dome shaped.

3.. The structure in claim 1 in which the sides of the head are beveled inwards towards the web.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a member of elastic material T-shaped in cross section and consisting of a web that can be stretched so as to decrease its thickness for insertion between the teeth, a head along one edge of said web adapted to engage the proximal surfaces of the teeth and prevent displacement of the device toward the gingival surface, and a pair of oppositely disposed protuberances at each end of the Web adjacent the edge thereof opposite the head and adapted to engage the inner. and outer surfaces of the teeth past the greatest cross-sectional area of the teeth to prevent inward or outward displacement of the device;

5. The structure according to claim 4 wherein the head has inwardly beveled sides and the protuberances have curved surfaces to, produce a wedging effect on the teeth due to the contractile action of the web.

6. A dental appliance of elastic material adapted to utilize the generally napiform shape of the teeth to hold it in place and consisting of a web for insertion between the teeth, a V-shaped head to engage the contiguous surfaces of the teeth above the occlusal surfaces, said web and head combined being. of less height than the exposed portions of the teeth between which it is to be used therefore to prevent contact with the papilla, and spaced dome-shaped protuberances on both faces at both ends adjacent the edge of the web opposite the head and adapted to engage the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth below the occlusal surfaces.

7. A dental appliance comprising a strip of elastic material of T-shape in cross section thereby providing a web and head, and a series of longitudinally spaced protuberances on each face of the Web adjacent the edge opposite to the head, said strip adapted to be cut into sections having a pair of the protuberances on each face of the web.

8. A dental appliance comprising a member of elastic material T-shaped in cross section to provide a web and a head along one edge of said web, and a pair of spaced protuberances on both faces adjacent the other edge of said web, the protuberances on one face being directly opposite those on the other face.

9'. A dental appliance comprising a member of elastic material T-shaped in cross section and consisting of a Web, a head along one edge of said web, and a pair of protuberances on one face adjacent the opposite edge of said web each one of said protuberances being adjacent to an end of said web.

10. A dental appliance comprising a member of elastic material T-shaped in cross section and consistingv of a web, a head along one edge of said web, a protuberance'on one face of said web at one end, and another protuberance on the other face of said web at the opposite end, said protuberances being located adjacent the edge opposite the head.

FRANK B. McNINCH. 

